Western Cape businesses and companies on Monday provided input on the government’s Covid-19 risk adjustment strategy.
David Maynier, Western Cape MEC for Finance and Economic Opportunities, says his department has been talking to various stakeholders in the province to make sure local businesses’ voices are heard in the government’s request for businesses to provide input on Covid’s tailored strategy -19 to fight.
Maynier says his department has been talking to 445 businesses and stakeholders in the province over the past 48 hours as part of the national consultation process.
“More than 40 proposals were received from the Department of Collaborative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta),” says Maynier.
He also says the provincial government still supports the national restriction, but it is imperative that people who are allowed to return to work can do so as quickly as possible to ensure that their livelihoods are sustained and that the economy is restored.
The MEC says they have also submitted proposals to Cogta regarding the conditions, regulations and restriction of certain economic activities for level four.
“These recommendations take into account the strict health and safety measures that companies will put in place to combat the spread of Covid-19.”
The Western Cape government’s proposed amendments to level four regulations include:
- The export of certain agricultural and other products, such as wine and hops, yachts and boats, engine parts, plants and herbal products and any other products considered necessary in other countries, as well as the transport of imported products to warehouses.
- To allow the construction industry to resume operations, especially where there is minimal labor and with the option to split shifts to ensure compliance with social distancing.
- To allow the manufacturing industry to operate at 50% capacity where it is safe to do so and to allow certain sectors to apply night shifts under the clock rule, especially for manufacturing and agri-processing sectors.
- To allow small, medium and micro businesses to resume work, and to allow the informal sector to open their doors, such as nurseries, movie production, specialty stores such as bakeries, butchers and health shops and dry cleaners and laundries.
- If allowing e-commerce below level four, because that would mean people staying at home instead of visiting stores.
